A NEW nursery should not be built because it would make a nearby road more dangerous, it has been claimed.

People in Bainton Road are concerned that the building proposed by St John’s College will cause extra traffic and place cyclists and families at risk along two “blind bends”.

According to plans lodged with Oxford City Council, to be discussed at a meeting tonight, the nursery would be built on land north of the college’s playing field and cater for 25 children.

City council officers last week claimed that traffic levels would be suitable and there would not be a negative impact on nearby roads.

John Briggs, 61, of Bainton Road, said: “It is a terrible site to try and have an entrance and exit, because there are going to be people coming in and stopping off to drop small children.

“That is not something you can do quickly and there is also going to be limited parking.

“There is a considerable amount of cyclist and walking traffic and with this nursery the risk of serious accident would increase dramatically.”

Residents have been backed by Oxford Civic Society, which has called for a traffic review to be carried out.

A survey done for St John’s College said the nursery was expected to generate 17 two-way vehicle journeys in the morning and 14 in the afternoon, but this is strongly disputed by residents.

They said that it did not account for how many cyclists use the route.

There are so far some 30 objections to the scheme, largely concerning the fears about road safety.

The traffic survey carried out for St John’s College by Glanville said little extra car traffic would be created by the nursery.

Oxford City Council’s west area planning committee will consider the plans at a meeting tonight at 6.30pm in Oxford Town Hall.